The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in place - meaning "danger to life" - in the Somerset Levels.

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A third is in place in Chiswell, Dorset, where people were warned that rough seas could breach defences and launch shingle over the promenade.

In all, there are more than 180 flood warnings - the furthest north on the River Dee close to Chester. Three hundred less serious flood alerts are in place, including five in the North East of England.

The River Thames also burst its banks in Chertsey, Surrey. A seven-year-old boy has died and his parents were in a serious condition in hospital after falling ill in a house in the town on Saturday morning.

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The West Country was completely cut off by rail following, with operators putting on replacement bus services and slashed ticket prices for passengers.

Flooding at Athelney and between Taunton and Bridgwater in Somerset means that all mainline routes to the region from London are closed.

The diversionary route via Yeovil is also closed at Crewkerne because of a landslip and is expected to remain shut for up to a week.

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That comes just days after a stretch of the rail line connecting Cornwall to the rest of the country fell into the sea at Dawlish in Devon when an 80m stretch of the sea wall was destroyed by high tides.

Official figures show last month was the wettest January since 1766.

Senior politicians including Prime Minister David Cameron - who visited Somerset on Friday - have promised affected areas will get all the help they need.

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Mr Cameron admitted the decision to stop dredging the rivers Tone and Parrett in the 1990s was wrong.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles chaired a COBRA meeting on Saturday evening.

He said: "An additional 1,600 military personal are now on standby across the south and can be deployed rapidly if required.

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"Flood ambassadors from the Environment Agency are on the ground across the country, including the Thames Valley, to offer help and practical advice to the public about the further bad weather expected."

The severe weather is expected to continue until at least the middle of February.